Method, apparatus, computer program and recording medium for providing game service

ABSTRACT

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor a computer to implement a content providing method in conjunction with a computer system may be provided. The content providing method may include providing a game program comprising a game module and a simulation module to a user terminal, the simulation module having same input and output functions as those of the game module, receiving play results comprising first output information of the game module and second output information of the simulation module from the user terminal, the play results are generated by the user terminal while not communicating with a server, and determining whether the a game play at the game module is played fairly based on the first output information of the game module and the second output information of the simulation module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/867,927, filed on Jan. 11, 2018, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0011293 filed onJan. 24, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entirecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to methods, apparatuses, and/or computerprograms for providing a game service.

2. Description of the Related Art

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure, and is not necessarily prior art.

Recently, games played in a mobile environment are increasing. Because anetwork connection of the mobile environment is unstable compared to awired network, performing communication in which a server and a terminalcommunicate after a game is played in one of the server and the terminalis desired rather than performing real time communication in which theserver and the terminal communicate with each other while the game isbeing played. However, when the server and the terminal communicateafter the game is played in the terminal, there is a risk of abuse by auser, such as manipulation by the user of a game program of the gameinstalled in the terminal or manipulation by the user while the game isbeing played.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the inventive concepts, andis not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all features ofthe inventive concepts.

One or more example embodiments include a method, apparatus, computerprogram, and recording medium for providing a game service, which arecapable of detecting abuse by a user without creating an excessive loadon a server.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented example embodiments.

According to one or more example embodiments, a method of providing agame service includes providing a game program including a game moduleand a simulation module, the simulation module having same input andoutput functions as those of the game module, receiving, from a userterminal, a play result including output information of the game modulewith respect to input information and output information of thesimulation module with respect to the input information, and determiningwhether play is fair based on the output information of the game moduleand the output information of the simulation module.

The method may further include updating user account information basedon the play result, according to a result of the determining, andoutputting information based on the result of the determining to theuser terminal.

In response to a determination that the play is fair, the updating mayinclude updating the user account information based on the outputinformation of the game module, and the outputting may includeoutputting approval information of the play.

In response to a determination that the play is not fair, the updatingmay include storing event information indicating that a user is anabusive user in association with the user account information, and theoutputting may include outputting an abuse warning message.

The game module may be configured to output first output information inresponse to first input information, and the simulation module may beconfigured to output second output information in response to secondinput information, and the game program may be generated such that thefirst output information and the second output information are same inresponse to the first input information and the second input informationbeing same.

The game module may include a graphic element to be displayed on adisplay of the user terminal and an audio element to be output to aspeaker of the user terminal, and the simulation module may not includea graphic element and an audio element.

The game module may be executed on a virtual machine of the userterminal and the simulation module may be executed on a centralprocessing unit of the user terminal.

The game module and the simulation module may be generated usingdifferent programming languages.

The method may further include, generating the simulation module viamachine learning such that the simulation module has the same input andoutput functions as the game module by using an input information setand an output information set of the game module before the providing agame program.

According to one or more example embodiments, an apparatus for providinga game service includes a memory having computer-readable instructionsstored therein, and at least one processor configured to execute thecomputer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to provide a gameprogram, the game program including a game module and a simulationmodule, the game module and the simulation module being modules havingsame input and output functions as those of the game module, receive aplay result from a user terminal, the play result including outputinformation of the game module with respect to input information andoutput information of the simulation module with respect to the inputinformation, and determine whether play is fair based on the outputinformation of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module.

According to one or more embodiments, a computer program is stored in amedium to execute the above method by using a computer.

According to one or more example embodiments, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recordedthereon a computer program, which when executed by a computer, isconfigured to cause the computer to execute the above method.

According to one or more example embodiments, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing instructionsthat, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to implement acontent providing method. The content providing method includesproviding a game program comprising a game module and a simulationmodule to a user terminal, the simulation module having same input andoutput functions as those of the game module, receiving play resultscomprising first output information of the game module and second outputinformation of the simulation module from the user terminal, the playresults are generated by the user terminal while not communicating witha server, and determining whether the a game play at the game module isplayed fairly based on the first output information of the game moduleand the second output information of the simulation module.

According to one or more example embodiments, an apparatus for providinga game service include a memory having computer-readable instructionsstored therein, and at least one processor configured to execute thecomputer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to provide a gameprogram including a game module and a simulation module, to a userterminal, the game module and the simulation module being modules havingsame input and output functions as those of the game module, receiveplay results from the user terminal after a game play is finished, theplay results including first output information of the game module withrespect to first input information and second output information of thesimulation module with respect to second input information, anddetermine whether the game play at the game module is played fairlybased on the first output information of the game module and the secondoutput information of the simulation module. The play results aregenerated by the user terminal while not communicating with theapparatus for providing a game service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be described in more detail with regard to thefigures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughoutthe various figures unless otherwise specified, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a configuration of a game system according to anexample embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a configuration of an apparatus forproviding a game service, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a configuration of a user informationmanager of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a configuration of a program provider ofFIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a method of providing a game service,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of a method of generating, by a simulation modulegenerator of FIG. 2C, a simulation module by using a machine learning ordeep learning method, according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a game system according to an exampleembodiment.

It should be noted that these figures are intended to illustrate thegeneral characteristics of methods and/or structures utilized in certainexample embodiments and to supplement the written description providedbelow. These drawings are not, however, to scale and may not preciselyreflect the precise structural or performance characteristics of anygiven example embodiment, and should not be interpreted as defining orlimiting the range of values or properties encompassed by the exampleembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more example embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments, however,may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construedas being limited to only the illustrated example embodiments. Rather,the illustrated example embodiments are provided as examples so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey theinventive concepts of this disclosure to those of ordinary skill in theart. Accordingly, known processes, elements, and techniques, may not bedescribed with respect to some example embodiments. Unless otherwisenoted, like reference characters denote like elements throughout theattached drawings and written description, and thus descriptions willnot be repeated.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used hereinto describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/orsections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections,should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used todistinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section, fromanother region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component,region, layer, or section, discussed below may be termed a secondelement, component, region, layer, or section, without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,”“above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or operation in addition tothe orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device inthe figures is turned over, elements described as “below,” “beneath,” or“under,” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” theother elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under”may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may beotherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and thespatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Inaddition, when an element is referred to as being “between” twoelements, the element may be the only element between the two elements,or one or more other intervening elements may be present.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups, thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding alist of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modifythe individual elements of the list. Also, the term “exemplary” isintended to refer to an example or illustration.

When an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupledto,” or “adjacent to,” another element, the element may be directly on,connected to, coupled to, or adjacent to, the other element, or one ormore other intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,”“directly coupled to,” or “immediately adjacent to,” another element,there are no intervening elements present.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and/or this disclosure, and should notbe interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expresslyso defined herein.

Example embodiments may be described with reference to acts and symbolicrepresentations of operations (e.g., in the form of flowcharts, flowdiagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams, block diagrams, etc.)that may be implemented in conjunction with units and/or devicesdiscussed in more detail below. Although discussed in a particularlymanner, a function or operation specified in a specific block may beperformed differently from the flow specified in a flowchart, flowdiagram, etc. For example, functions or operations illustrated as beingperformed serially in two consecutive blocks may actually be performedsimultaneously, or in some cases be performed in reverse order.

Units and/or devices according to one or more example embodiments may beimplemented using hardware, software, and/or a combination thereof. Forexample, hardware devices may be implemented using processing circuitrysuch as, but not limited to, a processor, a central processing unit(CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signalprocessor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), asystem-on-chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, orany other device capable of responding to and executing instructions ina defined manner.

Software may include a computer program, program code, instructions, orsome combination thereof, for independently or collectively instructingor configuring a hardware device to operate as desired. The computerprogram and/or program code may include program or computer-readableinstructions, software components, software modules, data files, datastructures, and/or the like, capable of being implemented by one or morehardware devices, such as one or more of the hardware devices mentionedabove. Examples of program code include both machine code produced by acompiler and higher level program code that is executed using aninterpreter.

For example, when a hardware device is a computer processing device(e.g., a processor, a CPU, a controller, an ALU, a digital signalprocessor, a microcomputer, a microprocessor, etc.), the computerprocessing device may be configured to carry out program code byperforming arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations, accordingto the program code. Once the program code is loaded into a computerprocessing device, the computer processing device may be programmed toperform the program code, thereby transforming the computer processingdevice into a special purpose computer processing device. In a morespecific example, when the program code is loaded into a processor, theprocessor becomes programmed to perform the program code and operationscorresponding thereto, thereby transforming the processor into a specialpurpose processor.

Software and/or data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in anytype of machine, component, physical or virtual equipment, or computerstorage medium or device, capable of providing instructions or data to,or being interpreted by, a hardware device. The software also may bedistributed over network coupled computer systems so that the softwareis stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In particular, forexample, software and data may be stored by one or more computerreadable recording media, including tangible or non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media discussed herein.

According to one or more example embodiments, computer processingdevices may be described as including various functional units thatperform various operations and/or functions to increase the clarity ofthe description. However, computer processing devices are not intendedto be limited to these functional units. For example, in one or moreexample embodiments, the various operations and/or functions of thefunctional units may be performed by other ones of the functional units.Further, the computer processing devices may perform the operationsand/or functions of the various functional units without sub-dividingthe operations and/or functions of the computer processing units intothese various functional units.

Units and/or devices according to one or more example embodiments mayalso include one or more storage devices. The one or more storagedevices may be tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), apermanent mass storage device (such as a disk drive), solid state (e.g.,NAND flash) device, and/or any other like data storage mechanism capableof storing and recording data. The one or more storage devices may beconfigured to store computer programs, program code, instructions, orsome combination thereof, for one or more operating systems and/or forimplementing the example embodiments described herein. The computerprograms, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, mayalso be loaded from a separate computer readable storage medium into theone or more storage devices and/or one or more computer processingdevices using a drive mechanism. Such a separate computer readablestorage medium may include a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, amemory stick, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD-ROM drive, a memory card, and/or othersimilar computer readable storage media. The computer programs, programcode, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into theone or more storage devices and/or the one or more computer processingdevices from a remote data storage device via a network interface,rather than via a local computer readable storage medium. Additionally,the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combinationthereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or theone or more processors from a remote computing system that is configuredto transfer and/or distribute the computer programs, program code,instructions, or some combination thereof, over a network. The remotecomputing system may transfer and/or distribute the computer programs,program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, via a wiredinterface, an air interface, and/or any other similar medium.

The one or more hardware devices, the one or more storage devices,and/or the computer programs, program code, instructions, or somecombination thereof, may be specially designed and constructed for thepurposes of the example embodiments, or they may be known devices thatare altered and/or modified for the purposes of example embodiments.

A hardware device, such as a computer processing device, may run anoperating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run onthe OS. The computer processing device also may access, store,manipulate, process, and create data in response to execution of thesoftware. For simplicity, one or more example embodiments may beexemplified as one computer processing device; however, one of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that a hardware device may includemultiple processing elements and multiple types of processing elements.For example, a hardware device may include multiple processors or aprocessor and a controller. In addition, other processing configurationsare possible, such as parallel processors.

Although described with reference to specific examples and drawings,modifications, additions and substitutions of example embodiments may bevariously made according to the description by those of ordinary skillin the art. For example, the described techniques may be performed in anorder different to that of the methods described, and/or components suchas the described system, architecture, devices, circuit, and the like,may be connected or combined to be different from the above-describedmethods, or results may be appropriately achieved by other components orequivalents.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a configuration of a game system according to anexample embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the game system according to an example embodimentincludes a server 100, a user terminal 200, and a communication network400 connecting the server 100 and the user terminal 200. A plurality ofthe user terminals 200 may each access the server 100 through thecommunication network 400.

The game system according to an example embodiment may provide a gameprogram of a game to the user terminal 200, and provide a game servicefor playing the game as the user terminal 200 accesses the server 100through the game program. Recently, games played in a mobile environmentare increasing. Because a network connection of the mobile environmentis unstable compared to a wired network, performing communication inwhich the server 100 and the user terminal 200 communicate after thegame is played in one of the server 100 and the user terminal 200 isdesired rather than performing real time communication in which theserver 100 and the user terminal 200 communicate with each other whilethe game is being played. The game system according to an exampleembodiment provides the game service in which a game result is providedto the server 100 after the game is played autonomously on the userterminal 200 approved by the server 100 (hereinafter referred to as theuser terminal 200 playing the game).

The server 100 may provide the game program and the game service capableof detecting abuse by a user during the game, to the user terminal 200.For example, the server 100 may provide the game program to the userterminal 200, and detect the abuse by a user by receiving a result ofthe game played on the user terminal 200 by using the game program.Although not illustrated, the server 100 according to an exampleembodiment may include a memory, an input/output unit, a program storageunit, and a controller.

When the game program is first installed in the user terminal 200 andthe user terminal 200 plays the game by using the installed gameprogram, abuse of a user may occur, for example, when the userpre-manipulates the game program or manipulates playing of the game byusing an illegal program. The game system according to an exampleembodiment provides the game service capable of detecting such abuses.In this regard, the game system according to an example embodiment mayprovide a game program including a game module and a simulation module.The user terminal 200 may play the game by using both the game moduleand the simulation module, and the server 100 may detect abuse bycomparing play results of playing the game by using the game andsimulation modules. The server 100 may process the play results takingthe detected abuse into consideration.

Here, the abuse inclusively denotes an action of using an illegalprogram (e.g., a bug or hack) on an online game, an action ofmanipulating the game program, and an action of making unfair profits bystealing an account or logging in via multiple accounts. The abuseusually aims at rewards given based on an outcome or score of the game.

Referring to FIG. 1, the user terminal 200 denotes a communicationterminal capable of using a web service in a wired/wirelesscommunication environment. Here, the user terminal 200 may be a personalcomputer (PC) 201 of the user or a mobile terminal 202 of the user. InFIG. 1, the mobile terminal 202 is a smart phone. However, exampleembodiments are not limited thereto. The user terminal 200 may be anyterminal configured to execute an application capable of performingInternet-based communications, as described above.

The user terminal 200 may include displays 2011 or 2021 displaying ascreen, and an input device receiving data from the user. The inputdevice may include, for example, a keyword, a mouse, a track ball, amicrophone, a button, or a touch panel, but is not limited thereto.

The communication network 400 connects the user terminal 200 and theserver 100 to each other. For example, the communication network 400 mayprovide an access path for the user terminal 200 to access the server100 and to transmit and receive packet data to and from the server 100.The communication network 400 may include a wired network (e.g., a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), or an integrated service digital network (ISDN)), or awireless network (e.g., wireless LAN, CDMA, Bluetooth, satellitecommunication, 3^(rd)-generation (3G), 4^(th)-generation (4G), or5th-generation (5G)), but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a configuration of an apparatus 110 forproviding a game service, according to an example embodiment.

The apparatus 110 according to an embodiment may correspond to at leastone processor or include at least one processor. Accordingly, theapparatus 110 may be driven in a form of being included in anotherhardware apparatus, such as a microprocessor or a general-purposecomputer system, or may be included in the server 100.

FIG. 2A only illustrates components of the apparatus 110 that arerelated to the present example embodiment so as to prevent features ofthe present embodiment from being blurred. Accordingly, it would beobvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus 110 mayfurther include other general-purpose components in addition to thoseshown in FIG. 2A.

The apparatus 110 according to an embodiment may provide a game programincluding a game module and a simulation module to the user terminal200, approve starting of a stage when the user terminal 200 accesses theapparatus 110 through the game program and requests the apparatus 110 tostart the stage, determine whether play is fair by receiving a playresult of playing the stage, and perform a process on the play resultbased on whether the play is fair (e.g., by taking the play results intoconsideration). Here, the stage is a unit of the game to be played. Auser obtains an experience point, an item, mileage, or game money basedon the play result.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the apparatus 110 according to an exampleembodiment includes a program provider 111, a stage approver 112, a fairplay determiner 113, a user information manager 114, and a storage unit115. The apparatus 110 may be implemented by processing circuitry (e.g.,one or more processors). Each component of the apparatus 110 will now bedescribed.

The program provider 111 according to an example embodiment may providea game program including a game module and a simulation module. Thesimulation module may be generated by the server 100 to have the sameinput and output functions as the game module. Although the simulationmodule has the same input and output functions as the game module, thesimulation module may have different features from the game module.Here, the same input and output functions mean that the same outputvalue is output when the same input value is input.

According to an example embodiment, the game module may include agraphic element to be displayed on a display of the user terminal 200and an audio element to be output to a speaker of the user terminal 200,whereas the simulation module may not include a graphic element and anaudio element. Accordingly, the game module is generated in relativelyhigh capacity and the simulation module is generated in relatively lowcapacity.

The game module may be generated by using a particular generating toolto include a graphic element and an audio element, and in this case, thegame module may be reconstructed via program code. The simulation modulemay not be generated by using the above particular generating tool, andmay be generated in such a manner that code reconstruction is notpossible.

The game module and the simulation mode may be generated by usingdifferent programming languages strategically or out of necessity. Forexample, the game module may be generated using a C+ programminglanguage and the simulation module may be generated using a C or C++programming language.

Due to a difference between programming languages and/or types ofexecution files, the game module and the simulation module may beexecuted in different layers. For example, the game module may beexecuted in a virtual machine built in the user terminal 200, and thesimulation module may be executed in a central processing unit (CPU) ofthe user terminal 200.

The stage approver 112 according to an example embodiment may receive agame start request from the user terminal 200, and output a game startapproval in response to the game start request. Upon receiving the gamestart approval, the user terminal 200 may start a game. The game startrequest may include information about a stage selected and to be playedby the user terminal 200, account information of a user, and inputinformation including a parameter to be input to the stage. The stageapprover 112 may output the game start approval by determining whetherthe game start request is valid.

The user terminal 200 may complete playing the stage by using the gamemodule, and obtain a play result. Here, the game program is configuredsuch that input information input while the user terminal 200 plays thestage is input to both the game module and the simulation module andthus both the game module and the simulation module are executed.Accordingly, after the stage is played, a play result including bothoutput information of the game module and output information of thesimulation module may be obtained.

The input information includes information directly input by the user.For example, a character and an item selected by the user while enteringthe stage, or a parameter set by the user may correspond to the inputinformation. However, the input information is not limited thereto, andmay include information that is not directly input by the user. Examplesof such information include parameters (e.g., a user level and/or arating) unique to a user account desired to play the game.

The fair play determiner 113 according to an example embodiment mayreceive a play result of the user terminal 200. The play result mayinclude output information of the game module and the output informationof the simulation module with respect to the input information. The fairplay determiner 113 may determine whether the play is fair based on aresult of comparing the output information of the game module and theoutput information of the simulation module. For example, the fair playdeterminer 113 may determine that the play is fair when the outputinformation of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module are the same, and the play is not fair when the outputinformation of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module are different.

Because the game module and the simulation module are generated to havethe same input and output functions, the output information of the gamemodule and the output information of the simulation module are the samewith respect to the same input information, if there is no abuse by theuser. However, when there is abuse by the user, for example, when theuser performs a separate process while playing the game by using anillegal program or falsifies the game program, the output information ofthe game module is changed, and thus the output information of the gamemodule and the output information of the simulation module aredifferent.

The fair play determiner 113 may determine that the play is fair whenthe output information of the game module and the output information ofthe simulation module are the same, and the play is not fair when theoutput information of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module are different. Here, the output information of thegame module and the output information of the simulation module may bethe same, or may be substantially the same within an error rangedepending on a method of generating the simulation module. For example,when the simulation module is generated via machine learning, the fairplay determiner 113 may determine that the play is fair when the outputinformation of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module are the same, and determine that the play is not fairwhen the output information of the game module and the outputinformation of the simulation module are outside the error range. Thefair play determiner 113 may output a result of determining whether theplay is fair to the user information manager 114.

Meanwhile, the apparatus 110 and the user terminal 200 may notseparately communicate from when the stage approver 112 outputs the gamestart approval to when the fair play determiner 113 receives the playresult. Accordingly, the apparatus 110 and the user terminal 200communicate with each other once when the play starts and once when theplay ends, and the game is played only in the user terminal 200 and theapparatus 110 and the user terminal 200 do not communicate with eachother in real-time while the game is being played. Thus, the game can bestably played on the user terminal 200 even in an unstable communicationenvironment.

The user information manager 114 according to an example embodiment mayupdate and store user account information based on the play result,according to the result of determining whether the play is fair by thefair play determiner 113. When the fair play determiner 113 determinesthat the play is fair, the user information manager 114 may store theoutput information of the game module. The user information manager 114may update the user account information based on the output informationof the game module. When the fair play determiner 113 determines thatthe play is not fair, the user information manager 114 may store eventinformation indicating that the user is an abusive user in associationwith the user account information.

The user information manager 114 may output information according to theresult of the determining to the user terminal 200. For example, whenthe fair play determiner 113 determines that the play is fair, the userinformation manager 114 may output approval information of the play.When the fair play determiner 113 determines that the play is not fair,the user information manager 114 may output an abuse warning message tothe user terminal 200. The abuse warning message may be, for example,“play is not fair and thus play result is not reflected”. When the fairplay determiner 113 determines that the play is not fair, the userinformation manager 114 may not only output the abuse warning message,but also may impose a penalty on an account of the abusive user.

The storage unit 115 according to an example embodiment includes aprogram storage unit 1151 storing the game program, and a userinformation storage unit 1152 storing the user account information. Thegame program of a recent version is stored in the program storage unit1151, and the program provider 111 may provide the game program storedin the program storage unit 1151 to the user terminal 200. The userinformation storage unit 1152 may store information related to a useraccount. For example, the user information storage unit 1152 may store,for example, the user account information, game item informationincluded in the user account, and/or abuse information of the useraccount.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a configuration of the user informationmanager 114 of FIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the user information manager 114 according to anexample embodiment includes a play result reflector 1141, a playapprover 1142, and an abusive user information manager 1143. When theplay is fair, the play approver 1142 may transmit approval informationindicating that the play result is approved to the user terminal 200.The user terminal 200 may be in a standby mode after transmitting theplay result to the server 100, and then proceed to a next step when theapproval information is received.

When the play is fair, the play result reflector 1141 may store the playresult in the user information storage unit 1152. For example, anexperience point, game money, and an item associated with the useraccount may be updated based on acquisition information of an experiencepoint, game money, and an item, which is the output information of thegame module.

When the play is not fair, the abusive user information manager 1143 maystore the event information indicating that the user is an abusive userin association with the user account information. The abusive userinformation manager 1143 may impose a penalty on the user account storedas the abusive user. The penalty may be pre-set and appliedgradationally or proportionally based on the number of times abuseoccurs. For example, gradational (or proportional) penalties (e.g.,access prohibition, character deletion, and/or an account deletion) maybe set and applied during a pre-set (or alternatively, desired) periodof time. The abusive user information manager 1143 may output the abusewarning message to the user terminal 200.

FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a configuration of the program provider111 of FIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the program provider 111 according to an exampleembodiment includes a game module generator 1111 and a simulation modulegenerator 1112.

According to an example embodiment, the game module is first generatedby the game module generator 1111. The game module generator 1111 mayautonomously provide a game module generating tool to a developer, andgenerate the game module by receiving an input of the developer. In someexample embodiments, the game module generator 1111 may receive the gamemodule generated by the developer by using a separate tool. The gamemodule generator 1111 may store the game module in the program storageunit 1151.

Then, the simulation module generator 1112 may generate the simulationmodule based on the game module. The simulation module generator 1112may generate the simulation module such that the simulation module hasthe same input and output functions as the game module. However, thesimulation module does not need to include each and every logic of thegame module, and it is sufficient to just include the same input-outputfunctions as the game module. For example, when the game module outputsfirst output information when first input information is input, and thesimulation module outputs second output information when second inputinformation is input, the simulation module generator 1112 may generatethe simulation module such that the first output information and thesecond output information are the same when the first input informationand the second input information are the same.

The simulation module generator 1112 may generate the simulation modulevia a machine learning or deep learning method, but example embodimentsare not limited thereto. A detailed method of generating the simulationmodule by using the machine learning or deep learning method will bedescribed later with reference to FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a method of providing a game service,according to an example embodiment.

The method of FIG. 3A includes operations that are performed intime-series by the apparatus 110 of FIGS. 2A through 2C. Accordingly,details described with reference to FIGS. 2A through 2C may be appliedto the method of FIG. 3A even if omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the server 100 may provide a game program to theuser terminal 200 in operation 31. The game program may include a gamemodule and a simulation module that are generated to have the same inputand output functions as the game module. The game module may begenerated to output first output information when first inputinformation is input, the simulation module may be generated to outputsecond output information when second input information is input, andthe game program may be generated such that the first output informationand the second output information are the same when the first inputinformation and the second input information are the same. The gamemodule may include a graphic element to be displayed on a display of auser terminal and an audio element to be output to a speaker of the userterminal, and the simulation module may not include such graphic elementand audio element. The game module may be generated such that codereconstruction is possible, and the simulation module may be generatedsuch that code reconstruction is not possible. The game module may beexecuted on a virtual machine of the user terminal, and the simulationmodule may be executed on a CPU of the user terminal. The game moduleand the simulation module may be generated using different programminglanguages. The game module may be generated using a C+ programminglanguage, and the simulation module may be generated using a C or C++programming language.

In operation 32, the user terminal 200 may request the server 100 for astage start approval. In operation 33, the server 100 may transmit thestage start approval to the user terminal 200. In operation 34, the userterminal 200 may autonomously play a game and a simulation.

In operation 35, the user terminal 200 may transmit a play resultincluding information about results of playing the game and thesimulation. The play result includes output information of the gamemodule according to input information and output information of thesimulation module according to the input information.

Between operations 33 to 35, for example in operation 34, the userterminal 200 and the server 100 may not communicate each other, and theuser terminal 200 may autonomously play the game and the simulation.

In operation 36, the server 100 determines whether play of the userterminal 200 is fair based on the play result received in operation 35.It is determined whether the play is fair in operation 36 by comparingthe output information of the game module and the output information ofthe simulation module.

When it is determined that the play is fair in operation 37, the server100 may perform operation 39, and when it is determined that the play isnot fair in operation 37, it is determined that abuse occurs and theserver 100 may perform operation 38. Although not shown in FIG. 3A, whenit is determined that the play is not fair in operation 37, the server100 may store event information indicating that a user is an abusiveuser in association with user account information.

In operation 38, the server 100 may transmit an abuse warning message tothe user terminal 200. In operation 39, the server 100 may store a playresult. In operation 39, the server 100 may update and store the useraccount information based on based on the play result, for example, theoutput information of the game module. In operation 40, the server 100may transmit approval of the play result to the user terminal 200.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of a method of generating, by the simulationmodule generator 1112 of FIG. 2C, a simulation module by using a machinelearning or deep learning method, according to an example embodiment.Referring to FIG. 3B, the simulation module may be generated vialearning such as to have the same input and output functions as a gamemodule by using input information and output information sets of thegame module.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the simulation module generator 1112 may preparethe input information set in operation 311, and prepare the outputinformation set including the output information with respect to inputinformation, by inputting the input information set to the game module,in operation 312. Pieces of input information included in the inputinformation set match pieces of output information included in theoutput information set in a one-to-one manner. In operation 313, thesimulation module generator 1112 may generate the simulation module byusing the machine learning method with respect to the input informationset and the output information set. For example, the deep learningmethod may be used. The simulation module generator 1112 may generatethe simulation module that is capable of deriving the output informationset from the input information set, by using the deep learning method.The simulation module may be more elaborately generated when more piecesof input and output information are included in the input and outputinformation sets.

In operation 314, the simulation module generator 1112 may determinewhether an error rate between input and output functions of the gamemodule and input and output functions of the simulation module is lessthan a reference value. For example, when an error rate between outputinformation of the game module and the output information of thesimulation module with respect to arbitrary input information is lessthan the reference value, (e.g., when same output information is outputwithin an error range), operation 315 may be performed. When it isdetermined that the error rate of the input and output functions isequal to or greater than the reference value in operation 314, operation311 may be performed such that the simulation module is further trained,and the training may be repeated based on the simulation module that hasbeen generated. As the training is repeated, the simulation module maybe more elaborately generated via more input and output informationsets, and thus the error rate between the input and output functions ofthe game module and the input and output functions of the simulationmodule may be reduced.

In operation 315, the simulation module generator 1112 may store thegenerated simulation module in the program storage unit 1151, and endthe method.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a game system according to an exampleembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, a game module 41 and a simulation module 42 areinstalled in the user terminal. A user may select a stage to be playedin a game, set various parameters, and request for a stage startapproval. When the stage start approval is received from the server,input information may be identically input to the game module 41 and thesimulation module 42. Here, the input information may include thevarious parameters set by the user. For example, the various parametersinclude information about a character selected to play the stage, astatus of the character, and an item selected to be used in the stage.

As shown in FIG. 4, the game module 41 and the simulation module 42 areinstalled in the user terminal 200 and are independent of the server100.

The game module 41 may play the stage by using the input information andoutputs a graphic element and an audio element through a display and aspeaker of the user terminal 200. When the stage is ended, first outputinformation about a play result of playing the stage is output. Thestage is played according to a logic included in the game module 41.

The simulation module 42 may output second output information accordingto a logic included in the simulation module 42, by using the same inputinformation as that input information to the game module 41. Thesimulation module 42 may be generated not to include a graphic elementand an audio element, and to only include the logic.

The first output information and the second output information may betransmitted from the user terminal 200 to the server 100, and the server100 may determine whether play is fair by using the first outputinformation and the second output information.

A simulation module for determining fairness of a game module needs tobe thoroughly secured from hacking or abuse of a user. When the server100 includes the simulation module, accessibility of the user is low andthus security of the simulation module may be high, but in such case theserver 100 may be overloaded because all simulations of plays of theuser are performed by the server 100.

In this regard, a game system according to an example embodiment mayexecute a simulation in the user terminal 200 instead of the server 100,while generating a simulation module to have high security such that thesimulation module is safe from hacking or abuse of a user. Accordingly,a load of the server 100 may be reduced while safety from hacking orabuse of the user is guaranteed or improved.

According to one or more example embodiments, methods, apparatuses,computer programs, and recording media for providing a game service maydetect abuse of a user without creating an excessive load on a server.

It should be understood that the example embodiments described hereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each device ormethod according to example embodiments should typically be consideredas available for other similar features or aspects in other devices ormethods according to example embodiments. While some example embodimentshave been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that variations in form and detail may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause acomputer to implement a content providing method, the content providingmethod comprising: providing a game program comprising a game module anda simulation module to a user terminal to cause the user terminal toautonomously play a game play and a simulation, the simulation modulehaving same input and output functions as those of the game module;receiving play results comprising first output information of the gamemodule and second output information of the simulation module from theuser terminal, the first output information and the second outputinformation generated by the user terminal while the user terminal beingnot in communication with a server; and determining whether the gameplay at the game module is played fairly based on the first outputinformation of the game module and the second output information of thesimulation module.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium according to claim 1, wherein the content providing methodfurther comprises: updating user account information based on the playresults, according to a result of the determining; and outputtinginformation based on the result of the determining to the user terminal.3. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according toclaim 2, wherein in response to the result of the determining indicatingthat the game play at the game module is played fairly, the updatingcomprises updating the user account information based on the firstoutput information of the game module, and the outputting comprisesoutputting approval information of the game play.
 4. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 2, wherein inresponse to the result of the determining indicating that the game playat the game module is not played fairly, the updating comprises storingevent information indicating that a user is an abusive user inassociation with the user account information, and the outputtingcomprises outputting an abuse warning message.
 5. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame module is configured to output first output information when firstinput information is input, and the simulation module is configured tooutput second output information when second input information is input,and the game program is generated such that the first output informationand the second output information are the same when the first inputinformation and the second input information are the same.
 6. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,wherein the game module comprises a graphic element to be displayed on adisplay of the user terminal and an audio element to be output to aspeaker of the user terminal, and the simulation module does notcomprise a graphic element and an audio element.
 7. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thegame module is executed on a virtual machine of the user terminal andthe simulation module is executed on a central processing unit of theuser terminal.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the game module and the simulation moduleare generated using different programming languages.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,wherein the content providing method further comprises generating thesimulation module via machine learning such that the simulation modulehas the same input and output functions as the game module, by using aninput information set and an output information set of the game modulebefore the providing of the game program.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 1, wherein thecontent providing method further comprises generating the simulationmodule via machine learning such that the simulation module does notinclude each and every logic of the game module, by using an inputinformation set and an output information set of the game module beforeproviding the game program.
 11. An apparatus for providing a gameservice, the apparatus comprising: a memory having computer-readableinstructions stored therein; and at least one processor configured toexecute the computer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to,provide a game program including a game module and a simulation moduleto a user terminal to cause the user terminal to autonomously play agame play and a simulation, the game module and the simulation modulebeing modules having same input and output functions as those of thegame module, receive play results from the user terminal after the gameplay is finished, the play results including first output information ofthe game module with respect to first input information and secondoutput information of the simulation module with respect to second inputinformation, and determine whether the game play at the game module isplayed fairly based on the first output information of the game moduleand the second output information of the simulation module, wherein thefirst output information and the second output information is generatedby the user terminal while the user terminal is not in communicationwith the apparatus for providing the game service.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured toexecute the computer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to,update user account information based on the play results, according toa result of the determination, and output information based on theresult of the determination to the user terminal.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein in response to the result of the determinationindicating that the game play at the game module is played fairly, theat least one processor is further configured to execute thecomputer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to, update theuser account information based on the first output information of thegame module, and output approval information of the game play.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein in response to the result of thedetermination indicating that the game play at the game module is notplayed fairly, the at least one processor is further configured toexecute the computer-readable instructions to cause the apparatus to,store event information indicating that a user is an abusive user inassociation with the user account information, and output an abusewarning message.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the game moduleis configured to output first output information when first inputinformation is input, and the simulation module is configured to outputsecond output information when second input information is input, andthe game program is generated such that the first output information andthe second output information are the same when the first inputinformation and the second input information are the same.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the game module comprises a graphicelement to be displayed on a display of the user terminal and an audioelement to be output to a speaker of the user terminal, and thesimulation module does not comprise a graphic element and an audioelement.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the game module isexecuted on a virtual machine of the user terminal and the simulationmodule is executed on a central processing unit of the user terminal.18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the game module and thesimulation module are generated using different programming languages.19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to generate the simulation module via machinelearning such that the simulation module has the same input and outputfunctions as the game module, by using an input information set and anoutput information set of the game module.
 20. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generatethe simulation module via machine learning such that the simulationmodule does not include each and every logic of the game module, byusing an input information set and an output information set of the gamemodule before providing the game program.